Author: Faith Formation

Nativity of Our Lord Parish
Confirmation Sponsor/Candidate
Prayers, Discussions, and Activities Guide

As Confirmation Sponsor and Candidate, taking time together to reflect on and grow upon the different Catholic teachings can be a gift. How you go about completing the following activities are your choice. These sessions are for both of you and your growth. We will reflect upon them in the final Confirmation interview together, but otherwise the things talked about and discovered in these sessions are for you. Neither sponsor nor candidate will need to show in writing that these activities have been completed. Therefore, if you prefer to simply talk through the session and not write anything down, that is totally acceptable. If you prefer to talk and write, that works too. Do what works for you.

2015-2016

The Mystery of the Holy Trinity
Session 1:
**You will need a Bible, a dictionary or internet access, and a writing utensil.

I. Vocabulary:
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean, in relation to our faith.
Trinity
Natural Revelation
Gospels
Pentecost

II. Pray It!
1. Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Now pray the Glory Be together.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
3. Take some time quietly and independently and re-read this prayer. Look at the words that make up this prayer. What is the meaning behind what is said? After thinking about this awhile, share your thoughts with the person you are working with, and listen to what they thought the meaning was.
4. Take some time to reflect on the questions below.
What was your reaction to what you and your partner said?
What did you say that was similar?
What surprised you by what the other person said?
How would you explain this prayer to a friend?

III. Study It!
A.) God the Father
In your own words, tell each other about God. Who is God?
2. The writers of Sacred Scripture wanted us to know who God is and what his purpose in our lives is. He challenges us, He guides us, but most of us He loves us. Look up the following scriptures in your Bible. What do they say about who God is and what he does?
Genesis 1-3
Psalm 19:1
Romans 1:20
3. If you had to create a symbol to represent God, what would that symbol look like. Draw or write about your symbol below. Then share your symbol with the person you are working with.

III. Study It! (cont’d)
B.) Jesus the Son
What are some of the different names you know or have heard of for Jesus?
2. Look at the following scriptures in your Bible. These scriptures will identify different names or titles for Jesus. Write those titles down and in a few words describe what the writer is trying to convey in calling Jesus this title. What is the meaning behind the title?
Isaiah 53:11
Matthew 1:23
John 10:11
Revelation 1:8
3. There are four Gospels in the Bible. They are the first four books of the New Testament. What did the Gospel writers focus on? (Hint: the answer Jesus is not enough, what about Jesus did the writers want to tell us about?)
4. If you had to create a symbol to represent Jesus, what would that symbol look like. Draw or write about your symbol in the box. Then share your symbol.

III. Study It! (cont’d)
C.) Holy Spirit
Based on Sacred Scripture, where do you think the Holy Spirit shows up first? Talk about your thoughts with each other. Then look below.
The Holy Spirit first shows up in the creation story in Genesis. When God swept the wind over the earth, that wind was actually a representation of the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament often associates the Holy Spirit with the Spirit of God. However, in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is recognized as itself. If you look at the Gospel of Luke and read the first four chapters, the Holy Spirit is spoken of in regards to John the Baptist at birth (Luke 1:15), in the conception of Jesus in Mary (Luke 1:35), in Elizabeth (1:41) and Simeon (2:25), in the baptism of Jesus (3:22), and during Jesus’ walk in the desert (4:1).
2. Think about how you recognize the Holy Spirit in your life? Write, draw or simply discuss your thoughts on this question.
3. The Holy Spirit’s mission is to reveal God and Jesus Christ to others. Look back and/or think about your response to question #2. Did your response include God and Jesus’ presence in your life?
4. Create a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Draw or write about it in the box to the right.

IV. Live It!
Because of original sin, and the ability to question, humans often have difficulty comprehending and fully believing in the Trinity. What confuses you about the Holy Trinity?
2. When reflecting on the Trinity, what part of the Trinity do you feel most connected to—God the Father, Jesus the Son, or the Holy Spirit? Can you explain why you feel that way?
3. Can you identify different examples in your life or perhaps in the lives of others where you have seen the different parts of the Trinity at work?
God -
B) Jesus -
C) Holy Spirit -
4. In what way(s) this week, will you be more aware of the presence of the Holy Trinity? Are there specific things you will do the same or different?

The Structure of Mass
Session 2:
**You will need the Candidate’s Confirmation Study Guide, a Bible, a dictionary or internet access, and a writing utensil.

I. Vocabulary:
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean, in relation to Mass.
Eucharist
Consecrate

II. Pray It!
1. Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Now pray the Our Father together.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
3. Reread this prayer phrase by phrase. At the end of each phrase, stop and reflect on what you read and what the meaning behind the phrase is. Record your thoughts, and when finished share with each other.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

III. Study It!
A.) The Mass has many parts, and exhibits many different traditions. Take a moment, and describe the parts of a traditional Mass that stick out most to you in your head.
B.) Now, let’s dig deeper into the Mass and it’s traditions. Here’s the nuts and bolts:
There are four major parts of the Mass. They are: the Introduction, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and the Concluding Rite.
Each of the four parts of Mass can be broken down into smaller pieces. Refer to the Confirmation Candidate’s Study Guide, and look on the 2nd and 3rd page for the complete break down of a Mass.
C.) Introduction
This is where we come together as a community to worship and pray. The introduction ends when the first Reading begins.
What part of the introduction in Mass resonates most with you?
What is something you always wondered about during this time in the Mass?

III. Study It! (cont’d)
D.) Liturgy of the Word
During this part of the Mass, we listen to multiple scripture readings. We begin by listening to the 1st reading which is taken from the Old Testament, then we listen to a Psalm. The 2nd reading is from the New Testament, as is the Gospel which is what follows the 2nd reading. After the Gospel, we are given insight on the scriptures through the Homily. Finally, we profess our faith in the Nicene Creed, and we pray intercessory prayers, or petitions, together.
How does the different parts of the Liturgy of the Word inspire you in your life?
What’s your favorite scripture? Where is it in the Bible? Where would that scripture be proclaimed during Mass?
Still thinking of your favorite scripture, how has your favorite scripture (verse/story) helped you?
Did your scripture help you grow? In what ways did you grow from this scripture?
Where did you first hear your favorite scripture?
Thinking of intercessory prayers, or petitions, if you had to write a petition for something or someone, what would it sound like?

III. Study It! (cont’d)
E.) Liturgy of the Eucharist
This is the part of the Mass where the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus Christ to us through the consecration of the Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
If someone asked you what the Eucharist means to you, how would you respond?
Do you remember your 1st Communion? What was special about that day?
Compared to your 1st Communion Day, do you have the same feelings when receiving the Eucharist? What is the same or similar? What has changed?
You can be Eucharist for others. What does this mean to you, and in what ways can you be Eucharist for others this week?

III. Study It! (cont’d)
G.) Concluding Rite
The end of the Mass is upon you. An important part of this is the reception of a final blessing that is bestowed upon you. One famous example of a blessing is taken from Numbers 6:22-27. It is also called a benediction. The blessing being described is read as this:
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
Can you think of another way that you have been blessed at the end of Mass? Or, have you heard of any other blessings that have been said?
Take time to write a short blessing for a person in your life. When you finish, share what you have written with the person you are working with. Then, explain why you chose the wording and the person that you did.
Blessing others, or simply praying for others is an example of being the living form of the Eucharist. The final words of the Mass are often: “Go forth to love and serve the Lord and each other.” With these specific words ending the traditional form of the Mass, does Mass really end there? If you are thinking, No, you are right. It really is acting as a beginning. What are we as Catholics being challenged to do?

IV. Live It!
Now that you know more about the structure of the Mass, the challenge is not for you to only attend Mass regularly, but to really live it! In preparation for that here’s a challenge for you. Pick two of the choices below, and practice them. When finished, think about how you feel. Would what you chose to do be worth doing more than just one time?
Identify your daily blessings. Write a poem or a short letter intended for Jesus describing your blessings.
Go to Mass for a week.
Read and reflect on the Daily Readings for a week.
Read a story form one of the Gospels. Decide what the story is telling you , and how you are going to apply it to your life.
Take time to pray for specific events and people through out the week.
Record your thoughts, feelings, etc. here and revisit this the next time you work together.

Creed
Session 3:
**You will need a dictionary or internet access and a writing utensil.

I. Vocabulary:
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean, in relation to the Creed.
Marks of the Church
Catholic
Apostolic

II. Pray It!
Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Together, pray the Nicene Creed. That is written on the next page.
3. Now, reread the Nicene Creed silently. Look for any word or phrase that jumped out at you as something that you don’t understand or that you aren’t sure about. Share your thoughts with each other, and then determine a way you could go about determining what that word or phrase means. Record your thoughts below.

Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

III. Study It!
Let’s begin by identifying what you think the top ten beliefs in Catholicism are.
2. Share your top 10 list of beliefs with each other. What beliefs are the same or similar? Were there any distinctly different beliefs in your two lists? If so, what were they? Talk about the differences and why they are viewed as important beliefs in Catholicism.
3. As stated in the last session about the Mass, the Nicene Creed is part of the Liturgy of the Word. When we pray this prayer, we are professing our beliefs out loud to one another. Look back at the Nicene Creed on the other page. Pick it apart, and identify what you think are the top 10 beliefs written in that prayer and write them down.

1.	2.
3.	4.
5.	6.
7.	8.
9.	10.

1.	2.
3.	4.
5.	6.
7.	8.
9.	10.

III. Study It! (cont’d)
4. Share your top 10 list of beliefs that you found written in the Nicene Creed with each other. Did you and the person you are working with have many similar beliefs written down? Were there many differences in your list? Talk about the differences and why they are viewed as important beliefs in Catholicism.
5. Look back at the Nicene Creed one more time. What is the last “I Believe” statement in the prayer?
The last “I Believe” statement identifies the four marks of the Catholic Church. Did you know that as a Catholic, you believed in these four words and their meanings? The words seem so simplistic, and are said so easily, but have you ever stopped to think about their deeper meaning and what that entails of us as a member of the church? Talk about that together, and feel free to record any thoughts and or questions you have below.

IV. Live It!
Alright, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and think about what your top ten beliefs or values are in life. Now, open your eyes and record those thoughts below.
2. Discuss your lists with each other. Then, together, reflect on how that list fits in with your understanding of the Catholic faith.
3. Finally, put your top 10 beliefs/values into a written prayer form. When writing, chunk out the prayer similar to the form of the Nicene Creed. Then, add symbols next to or within the prayer that help represent what you believe.

1.	2.
3.	4.
5.	6.
7.	8.
9.	10.

Prayer Life
Session 4:
**You will need a dictionary or internet access, and coloring and writing utensils.

I. Vocabulary:
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean, in relation to prayer.
Lectio Divina
Rosary
Meditation

II. Pray It!
Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Take some time to fill in the shapes below that form a heart. First, fill in each shape with some words or phrases that you feel need to be lifted up in prayer. Then, choose a color that you feel represents the feeling behind this prayer and color that shape in.

3. Pray over the items you have listed. Take time to share intentions with each other and lift them up in prayer.

III. Study It!
Open your discussion today by talking about and making a list of different prayers you know and say. While you identify the different prayers, also identify if there is a common time that you pray each day.
2. Just like there are several different prayers, there are several different forms of prayer. Some specific forms that have been identified are:
A blessing—a prayer where God gives us a gift and then we respond with joy and gratitude
Adoration—the process of acknowledging that we are creatures before the One who created us.
Petition—we ask God for something we need.
Intercession—we ask God’s help for another person or group of people in need
Thanksgiving—we give thanks for the many creatures and opportunities God has gifted us with.
Praise—a prayer that expresses our love for God
Have you practiced any of these forms of prayer? When have you done that, can you give an example?

III. Study It! (cont’d)
As a Catholic, we are gifted with the ability to pray in many ways. AND, we have the awesome gift of requesting Saints and even the Blessed Mother Mary to intercede on our prayers, and go to God on our behalf to ask for those prayers. Do you ever pray to Mary or to any Saints? What are some examples of times you have or might do that?
4. In the past, how has prayer helped you?
5. We know that there are many different forms of prayer. Are there different ways to pray too? As Catholics are we required to only say memorized and pre-written prayers? I hope you said YES to the first question and NO to the second question. There are several ways to pray. You can speak from the heart and simply pray exactly what you are thinking. You can journal your prayers. You can draw your prayers. You can sing your prayers. You can read scripture and pray over that. With all that being said, what are your most common ways to pray?

IV. Live It!
Our lives are so busy. How will you find time to pray? Make a plan right now, and make it a goal to pray each day, perhaps several times a day. Then, tell the person you are working with about your plan and allow that person to be your accountability partner. Hopefully, you can keep yourselves in check when it comes to prayer.
2. When finding times to pray, determine the different types and forms of prayer that you will include in those times. Do you have time to say a Rosary? Do you need to simply just be and recognize the presence of God in your life through meditation? What type of prayer form(s) will you choose?
3. Challenge yourself to find out about other prayers in the Catholic Church. What are some prayers you didn’t know about before? Do those prayers interest you?

Strengths vs. Gifts of the Spirit
Session 5:
**You will need your Living Your Strengths book, a dictionary or internet access and a writing utensil.

I. Vocabulary:
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean, in relation to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts of the Spirit
Bestow

II. Pray It!
Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Pray this prayer together and reflect on the different gifts you may be bestowed with by the Holy Spirit. The prayer was written by St. Alphonsus Liguori, and is located on the next page.
3. After praying this prayer, discuss the different Gifts of the Holy Spirit that are identified, and talk about the different words and vocabulary in the prayer that stuck out for you. What in that prayer would be helpful to look at deeper, so you would have a better understanding of what the Holy Spirit could bestow upon you?

Prayer for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, divine Consoler, I adore You as my true God, with God the Father and God the Son. I adore You and unite myself to the adoration You receive from the angels and saints.
I give You my heart and I offer my ardent thanksgiving for all the grace which You never cease to bestow on me.
O Giver of all supernatural gifts, who filled the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with such immense favors, I beg You to visit me with Your grace and Your love and to grant me the gift of holy fear, so that it may act on me as a check to prevent me from falling back into my past sins, for which I beg pardon.
Grant me the gift of piety, so that I may serve You for the future with increased fervor, follow with more promptness Your holy inspirations, and observe your divine precepts with greater fidelity.
Grant me the gift of knowledge, so that I may know the things of God and, enlightened by Your holy teaching, may walk, without deviation, in the path of eternal salvation.
Grant me the gift of fortitude, so that I may overcome courageously all the assaults of the devil, and all the dangers of this world which threaten the salvation of my soul.
Grant me the gift of counsel, so that I may choose what is more conducive to my spiritual advancement and may discover the wiles and snares of the tempter.
Grant me the gift of understanding, so that I may apprehend the divine mysteries and by contemplation of heavenly things detach my thoughts and affections from the vain things of this miserable world.
Grant me the gift of wisdom, so that I may rightly direct all my actions, referring them to God as my last end; so that, having loved Him and served Him in this life, I may have the happiness of possessing Him eternally in the next. Amen.

III. Study It!
Begin your discussion today by having the candidate identify their top 5 strengths they have based on the Strengths Finder Survey they took at the beginning of the Confirmation process.
2. After sharing your strengths, identify what each strength means. You can do this in a number of ways. I would encourage you to look back at your book Living Your Strengths, you might look information up about your strengths on the internet, and/or you could simply have a conversation about your prior understanding of them. Write one of your strengths in each of the boxes below. Then write down any insights that come from your conversation about each strength.
3. In what ways do you utilize your strengths? Talk about the different activities you are a part of and the different ways you respond in conversations. Then identify the way you utilize your strengths in those activities and conversations.

Activities you are part of...	Ways you respond in conversations…

III. Study It! (cont’d)
4. Now, reflect on the different Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those include:
Wisdom
Knowledge
Understanding
Counsel
Fortitude
Piety
Fear of the Lord
What do each of these Gifts mean? Have a conversation of your prior understanding of the Gifts of the Spirit and their meaning. Now, take some time and look up the meanings to each of the Gifts together. Does this change your understandings in any way or does it add to it?
5. Looking at the activities and the conversations that you have listed on the prior page, how would the Gifts of the Holy Spirit mesh with them? For example, are there activities or conversations that require the attribute counsel? Have a conversation about this, and write any thoughts and/or reflections on this below.

IV. Live It!
Because we each have a unique make up of strengths, we respond and react to things differently. Think of a time when you and another person was in the same situation. Did you react the same way? If you didn’t, why might you have acted differently?
Challenge yourself to not only choose to do and react to things based on your strengths, but challenge yourself to understand others and meet them where they are at, perhaps with their strengths. How will you plan to complete this challenge? What might help you with this?
How does the Gifts of the Spirit help us when reacting to different situations? How do you plan to utilize the Gifts of the Spirit when reacting to different things?

Service in the Community and my Parish
Session 6:
**You will need a dictionary or internet access, and writing utensils.

I. Vocabulary
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean in relation to service.
success
stewardship

II. Pray It!
Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Now pray the Prayer for Generosity by Saint Ignatius of Loyola together.
Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve. To give and not to count the cost. To fight and not to heed the wounds. To toil and not to seek for rest. To labor and not to ask for reward. Save that of knowing that I am doing your will.
Amen.
3. After praying this prayer out loud, go back and reread the prayer. In your own words, sum up the meaning of this prayer in a maximum of five words.

III. Speak It!!
Discuss the idea of community service. What does this mean to you? Is this something that should be done only when told to by someone else? OR Is this something that I should naturally be motivated to do?
Talk together about different community service opportunities you have or could have taken part in over the past few years. How did you feel or how would you suspect you would feel during and/or after you served others?
Now, revisit the idea of the candidate’s strengths based on the Strengths Finder survey that they took at the beginning of the Confirmation process. What are the top five strengths that were identified for the candidate?
How is the candidate utilizing their strengths when performing community service? For example, someone with empathy as one of their top strengths, might be a good volunteer for Hopenet 360. (an organization run through the radio station Q90 who helps listen, pray for, and perhaps guide others in a crisis or difficult emotional situation) You are encouraged to list the different volunteer/service activities that you are part of. Then you are encouraged to reflect on what the expectations for this activity is, and how your strengths mirror or simply fit in with the expectations.
Why do you think you sought out volunteer/service opportunities that coincide with your strengths? Do you think it has something to do with the feeling of success?

III. Speak It!! (cont’d)
There is a service component expectation as part of the candidate’s confirmation process. Although there is no time limit associated with the service component, the expectation that the candidate will commit to and complete some time of service is imperative. Candidates are also expected to reflect on their experience and create something, of their choice, that will help the candidate convey their experience and reflections. Check in with your candidate about this. Ask them if they have thought about this yet or if the entire component expectation is already completed. Perhaps it is somewhere in between the thought process and the completion process. Nonetheless, have a discussion about where the student is at and where they plan to grow from here.
Going out into the community is often easy and readily available to us. There are so many different organizations and areas that need volunteers, that people often get involved. Some examples might be: the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and the Humane Society. With that being said, it is important to look at what you can do within your parish as well. Serving in the Parish not only allows us to serve God, but you are serving our personal parish community at the same time. There are many different areas in the parish that could use your help. Look at the grid on the next page. Identify the different characteristics a person might need to feel comfortable in the different volunteer roles in the Parish. Then look to see if there are any roles that match your strengths and then decide if the role might interest you.

III. Speak It!! (cont’d)

Commission	Different Subsets within the Commission/Guild	What might work for you and why?
Worship Commission	Lector-proclaimer of scripture during Mass / Cantor-leader of song for the congregation / Instrumentalist-leader of instrumental music for the congregation / Eucharistic Minister-minister of the Body or Blood of Christ during Mass / Decorating the Church-Decorating the environment for the different seasons of the liturgical year / Altar Server-assisting Father throughout the Mass / Choir Member-creating community while joining in song for the congregation at Mass

III. Speak It!! (cont’d)

Commission	Different Subsets within the Commission/Guild	What might work for you and why?
Worship Commission	Greeter-welcoming others as they enter and exit the church / Usher-helping with the collection and guiding the congregation to the Eucharist during Mass / Nursing Home Mass Volunteer-helping assist different Nursing Home residents get to Mass in their social hall
Faith Formation Commission	Catechist - teach younger children about the Catholic faith / Attendance Keeper- collect and update the attendance for the faith formation classes / Leader for younger youth-help guide younger youth at different youth ministry events

III. Speak It!! (cont’d)
This list does not include everything a Parish has to offer. There is so much to do in a parish, that if you don’t see something listed here, you should inquire within the Parish Office with the Stewardship Coordinator. They might be able to guide you towards something that would work with your strengths and help you continue to grow.
Together, discuss the following questions below.
Based on this activity, can you either or you see yourself wanting to get involved in your Parish?
What do either of you see as a benefit to doing community or parish service?
What would motivate either of you to do community or parish service?

IV. Live It!
The appeal of Community Service and even Parish Service is often dampened by the extra time it takes out of our schedules. We already are so busy with work, school, family, friends, homework, and housework, that finding time for one more thing just seems to be too much. But, maybe it doesn’t have to be like that. Check out this blog site. It is written with the idea of a teens schedule in mind, but it really is applicable for anyone. Check out -
https://www.teenlife.com/blogs/articles/50-community-service-ideas-teen-volunteers
or simply google “community service ideas for teens” it should be the first link that comes up from this search.
Your challenge is this: Discuss where you are at with community and parish service.
If service is something that is already a part of your schedule-that’s awesome! Keep up the good work! As you continue to make service a part of your life, do your best to work your experiences/stories into your conversations with others. The conversation shouldn’t focus on patting yourself on the back, rather they should explain how cool the experience is and how there is a need for more volunteers. Work on recruiting others. Listen compassionately to the concerns of those you are recruiting and if their answer is NO accept that. Maybe you planted a seed without even knowing it.
If service isn’t something that is already a part of your schedule, reassess your schedule and the many opportunities in your community and parish, and make a commitment to try a few things. Hopefully, one of the things you tried will interest you and be life giving for you, motivating you to make a further commitment with that organization.
Community and Parish Service can changes the lives of others, and if you are open to the Holy Spirit, it might change your life too. Good luck!

Vocations -
Consecrated, Married, and/or Single Life
Session 7:
**You will need a dictionary or internet access, and writing utensils.

I. Vocabulary
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean in relation to vocations.
Consecrated Life
Nun
Sister
Friar
Monk

II. Pray It!
1. Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Now pray a prayer of vocations together. This prayer was found on the USCCB (United States Catholic Council of Bishops) website.
Father you call each one of us by name
and ask us to follow you.
Bless your church by raising up dedicated and
generous leaders from our families and friends who
will serve your people as Sisters, Priests,
Brothers, Deacons, and Lay Ministers.
Inspire us as we grow to know you,
and open our hearts to hear your call.
We ask this in
Jesus name
Amen.
3. After praying this prayer out loud, go back and reread the prayer. Take a moment and identify some of the leaders that have worked in your parish or are working in your parish. Say an intercessory prayer on their behalf. This can be in thanksgiving, a request for healing, and/or a request for a blessing over that person.

III. Speak It!!
1.) So the idea of vocations is often something danced around by many because the thought of giving up the notion of our preconceived life can seem scary. What is meant by that, is vocations is often only associated to the consecrated life - the life of a priest, bishop, brother, sister, monk, friar, and or a nun, and sometimes that scares us.
What ideas about being part of the consecrated life makes us uncomfortable or even disinterested?
The idea of a vocation is the answering of the call. Not only the call to the priest or sisterhood but the call to married life, the call to the deaconate, the call to lay ministry, or even the call to the single life. As much as we like to be in control of our own life, the reality is - we aren’t in control - God is.
Think about this question, and then discuss this with each other. How do we know what God intends for us as our vocation? Is this easy? What do you think?
Candidates, what kind of feeling(s) are evoked when thinking about this? Sponsors, when you thought about your life’s vocation what kind of feeling(s) did you have then?

Speak It! (cont’d)
2.) When reading a Lifeteen article entitled “STOP WORRYING, YOUR VOCATION IS TO LOVE” by Alison Griswold. At the end of the article, Alison stated two really big ideas. She said,
“We don't need to fear the call of God in our lives, because it will satisfy the unique desires He inscribed in our hearts
at our creation.”
AND
“Discernment is learning to love and allowing God to direct that love to union with others.”
Let’s look at those two quotes.
The first quote says - “We don’t need to fear the call of God in our lives, because it will satisfy the unique desires He inscribed in our hearts at our creation.”
After reading this quote, how would you finish the following phrases?
Candidate: Knowing my vocation would...
Sponsor: When I was a teenager, knowing my vocation would have…
Now, explain to each other why you responded the way you did.

Speak It! (cont’d)
Now, let’s look at the second quote. “Discernment is learning to love and allowing God to direct that love to union with others.”
Let’s try finishing the phrases again.
Candidate: I am discerning my vocation in life by…
Sponsor: When I discerned my vocation, I knew…
Again, explain your answer to each other, and then talk about what both answers tell us about our humanity and about our faith?
3.) A quote that makes people laugh is “You know how to make God laugh? By making plans.” What do you think that quote is trying to tell you? How might that quote relate to the idea of vocations?
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 is another good quote. This quote can be used for many different times in our lives. Does this quote work when discerning a vocation? What are you thoughts?

Live It!
1.) How do we begin discerning? We all have had daydreams of what life might be like in the future. Start by talking with your sponsor. Ask them questions about how they knew what vocation was meant for them. Did your sponsor ever think about the seminary or convent? Did your sponsor always imagine that getting married or remaining single was for them?
2.) Now, sponsors talk with your candidate about where they are at with the idea of vocations. Has your candidate ever thought about the consecrated life? What does your candidate imagine their future might be like?
3.) Candidates, as you continue to discern your vocation, be sure to pray. But, when you pray, do your best to listen too. Sponsors, please take time to pray for your candidate’s vocation as well.

Live It! (cont’d)
4.) Together, take time to think about your faith, and how your faith relationship with the Holy Trinity is directly associated to your spiritual life. What does your spiritual life look like? Write a list of some of the different spiritual or faith experiences you have had. When you finish, look back and ask yourself, is God telling me anything through that list? Talk to each other about any epiphanies or AH-HA moments you have had.
5.) Last, you may have an inkling of what you might want to do in the future. Candidates, begin by asking your sponsor how they found themselves in the career they are in today. Then, go and interview different people in the different careers you think you might be interested in. Ask them about the good, the bad, and the ugly that have to do with their career. You might be surprised where your conversation might take you. Be open to that. Remember God’s in control. When time allows, share the insights you might have gained through your interviews with your sponsor.

Faith Testimony
Session 8:
**You will need a dictionary or internet access, and writing utensils.

I. Vocabulary
Directions: As you begin your conversation together, start by identifying what the following terms mean in relation to faith.
Testimony
Divine Inspiration

II. Pray It!
1. Begin by signing yourself with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Now pray the prayer “Act of Faith” together.
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy catholic Church teaches, because in revealing them you can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
3.) Relook at this prayer. How is this prayer similar to the Nicene Creed? Take time to discuss this with each other. Are there things that are missing from this prayer that is in the Nicene Creed? If so, what?

Study It!
1.) Begin by making a list of different things you have learned through this journey. Together, see if you can make a list of at least three things you learned in each of the categories below.
Take time to share your lists with each other. What items in your lists surprised you? What items in your lists were similar? How can you support each other as you continue to journey in your faith?

This is what I learned about the Catholic faith...	This is what I learned about myself...	This is what I learned about my sponsor/candidate...	This is what I need as I proceed on my faith journey...

Study It! (cont’d)
2.) Have you ever read a memoir, an autobiography or a biography? Or, have you watched a famous person share their life story either on a news show, a talk show, or even on the biography channel? What interests you about their story? Why do we take time to learn more about other people and listen to the insights they have had throughout their life? Take time to think about this, then share with each other your thoughts.
3.) As sponsor and candidate, take time to think about what you know about each other’s faith journey. In each of the seven boxes below, draw or write about a symbol that you feel represents the other person’s faith journey. When you finish, share your thoughts and symbols with each other.

What was life like without faith and/or when first developing your faith?
How has your faith helped you grow throughout your life?
How are you different because of your faith?
What are things you do or plan to do to continue to grow in your faith?

Study It! (cont’d)
4.) Finally, take time to think about these final four things:
Share your thoughts with each other. Be open to any insights that the other person might have for you.

Live It!
Together you have grown and discussed so many different facets of the Catholic Faith. Defining what makes up the Catholic Church is something that has been done by many people of the past. Still today, the display of information changes depending on the author. For example, a YouCat looks different from the Catholic Catechism for Adults. Catholic Online looks different from catholicism.about.com, but each speaks to our Catholic faith.
You have taken a lot of time to reflect on your faith. Individually, as candidate and as sponsor, take time to write your faith story. What significant faith experiences stick out in your head? How have you been influenced by the faith throughout your life? What has helped your faith grow? What has been difficult in your life that you found yourself needing to rely on your faith? Why is God a necessary part of your life? When finished, share your story with each other.

Live It! (cont’d)
As your sessions conclude, take time to encourage each other. As you continue to grow in faith your story will continue to change. God will place different events and opportunities in your path. Be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as you handle the events in the best way you know how. You are a gift. You are loved, you are worthy, and you are made in His image and likeness. Trust God’s plan, and don’t be afraid to live it!